help! computer disk hardware configuration problem

[wewinjiggy]

here's what happened...

i have windows7 and vista 64 on my SATA hd running perfectly until i re-installed xp sp2 on my spare IDE hd..

problem is when i boot my computer, it always runs on xp.. even if i change the boot sequence or try to manually boot the SATA from the boot menu.. it always boots the IDE hd..

i tried to disconnect the IDE drive hoping that this would leave the computer to boot the SATA hd.. instead i get this message on the screen..

"Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem.
Could not read from the selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware.
Please check the documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference manuals for additional information."

below is a screenshot of my disk management.. (taken from xp)

you can see in the image that the xp drive is the boot drive..

is there any procedure or steps i can do to be able to boot my SATA hd?

can anyone help please???

thanks in advance..

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello.



You will have to run 3 separate startup repairs as outlined in this tutorial at the link below to Windows 7 to recreate the boot files back to the Windows 7 partition and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

 

[wewinjiggy]

thanks.. will keep you posted..

 

[theog]

IDE HD will always boot first.

You need add WinXP to your dual boot,
using EasyBCD, is best used in Windows 7.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html?ltr=D
Use EasyBCD 2.0 in Win 7
Download EasyBCD 2.0.2 - NeoSmart Technologies

A bit more reading.

System Restore Points - Stop XP Dual Boot Delete - Vista Forums

 

[wewinjiggy]

Hello.

You will have to run 3 separate startup repairs as outlined in this tutorial at the link below to Windows 7 to recreate the boot files back to the Windows 7 partition and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

barefootkid.. thanks so much.. those threads really made everything simple..
+rep for you..

IDE HD will always boot first.

You need add WinXP to your dual boot,
using EasyBCD, is best used in Windows 7.
Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP
Use EasyBCD 2.0 in Win 7
Download EasyBCD 2.0.2 - NeoSmart Technologies

A bit more reading.

System Restore Points - Stop XP Dual Boot Delete - Vista Forums

thanks theog.. i'll read more about this.. might be useful.. problem is i'm running 3 OSes in this system.. can it do 3?
and besides, i think i already have that dual boot function on startup.. previously i have xp and win7 on dual boot(when i replaced my vista with 7).. now i have the vista and windows 7 dual boot(this was when i replaced xp with vista; then installed xp again on my spare IDE; which messed up my startup). might be nice if there was winxp + vista + win7... coz now if i want to run xp im like, steady watchin, waitin for the screen to enter boot menu.. cant just leave the system to boot by itself.. i thought its possible..

again, thanks guys..

 

[theog]

can it do 3?

YES.

 

[wewinjiggy]

ok. i'll give it a try.. thanks..

 

[wewinjiggy]

definitely gonna give it a try.. i thought everythin was ok.. as it turns out, i cant use/boot my xp..

 

[theog]

Is your Windows 7 booting OK?

 

[wewinjiggy]

yes.. windows 7 is ok.. i have already downloaded and installed EasyBCD.. should i still do the command prompt stuff even if i have booted okay in win7?

 

[theog]

NO, Just EasyBCD for now.

 

[wewinjiggy]

okay it worked.. now i have just one more question.. i actually tried it twice.. the first didnt work.. what happened was i accidentally/stupidly pressed "add entry" twice.. so there were two entries of the XP on the multi boot menu which are not running.. i then repeated again the process "with more care" and, voila! here i am using my xp..

now, how can i remove those 2 error entries? any ideas? can i also do it from the EasyBCD?

much thanks...

 

[wewinjiggy]

ow, i found it already.. its done.. i sure would like to offer another rep thing.. but i already gave it to you earlier.. thanks again...

 

[theog]

Yes, you can remove in EasyBCD.

Click on Edit Boot Menu

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello again, good to see you getting it sorted and thanks for keeping us updated.



When you have the time, you may find these tutorials of interest.

These 2 are completely separate methods; just remember the Windows 4 partition limit, trying to exceed that is a real nightmare to correct for.

Clean Install Windows 7 : Ahead of XP

Clean Install Windows 7 : Ahead of Vista


This one is for starting from scratch and is a little advanced but it is completely possible to boot multiple OSs from Extended / Logical drives using a single Primary partition.

System Reserved : Multi Boot from Logical Partitions

 

[wewinjiggy]

ow! thanks for those additional links.. i'll check on it in a bit.. cheers!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

You're welcome mate, be sure to keep us informed.